Bloodgate Hill - Bloodgate Hill

Hailing from North Norfolk, Bloodgate Hill are an energetic five-piece formed from the remnants of punk bands in the area, and they released their eponymous debut album just a few weeks ago, and I must say it’s rather good.

First up, it’s not very polished, and it seems post production has been kept to an absolute minimum, which fits their style perfectly. It’s gritty, grimy and dirty and after listening you feel like a good shower might be in order.

With a style not dissimilar to Sham 69 or Buzzcocks, this is as classic sounding as you can get, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that it doesn’t break any new ground or blaze any trails into strange new territories. The band know exactly how they want to sound and that’s evident throughout the album though, and it’s that clear direction that really sticks out.

This is pure “balls to the wall” rock music without the bells and whistles, and it’s all the better for it. In a world of complexity, it can be a relief to escape into something much simpler and this album will provide you with that, and probably a lot more besides. The real ace in the hole though, is that you can tell from listening just how much fun they had doing it, and it’s just as much fun (probably) to listen to.

It's not perfect of course, but for a debut release from a band that in the grand scheme of things hasn’t been together for too long, it’s a bloody good effort. It is thoroughly enjoyable though, and that alone should be enough to hold anyone’s interest.

If you get the chance to see them live, you most certainly should, because their energy is relentless, and although some of that comes across on this album, you need to see them in person to get the full experience. Get your coat on and take a trip to Bloodgate Hill, because it’s a great place to visit.

8.5/10

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